Guest Opinion: Repeal and replace the giveawayAlaska is on the cusp of another historic mistake with the signing governor’s oil wealth giveaway — a much bigger mistake than the Seward grain terminal or the Anchorage fish plant. In fact, Alaskans stand to lose more in a month than we lost for those two projects combined. The giveaway’s own backers call it a “gamble” and a “crapshoot,” and the Legislative Finance Division says it will put the state in the hole ...

Capitol Report: April 8Hello again from Juneau. With the legislatives session slated to adjourn this coming Sunday, the Capitol building is an active place. As you probably know, the governor’s bill to cut oil taxes, which I voted against, is now in the House finance committee after passing out of the House resources committee last week, and there is much speculation that the bill either will not make it to the floor for a vote by April...

Alan Austerman Capitol ReportThe last few weeks have been extremely busy in the Capitol. As I reported previously, the House transmitted its version of the operating budget to the Senate on March 14. The Senate finance committee adopted their version of the operating budget on March 26. That budget appropriates nearly $50 million more in General Funds than the House’s budget. The next steps in the operating budget process will take place earl...

Important public comment opportunity about Pebble Mine The potential for damage to fish habitat from the mining of sulfide mineral deposits like Pebble is a recognized fact. Addressing this risk to Bristol Bay's salmon habitat presents a large hurdle for permitting the Pebble mine. The Pebble Partnership has long stated that “development of Pebble should be based on the established, stringent regulatory process and sound science, not politics. Pebble's CEO John Shivel...

Capitol ReportHello again from Juneau. With less than three weeks remaining until the legislature’s scheduled adjournment on April 14, the capitol is a busy place, with oil taxes and the budget occupying a great deal of the discussion. As you probably know, the governor’s bill to reduce oil taxes, SB 21, passed the Senate on an 11-9 vote and is under discussion in the House. While I share the goal of increasing oil production, ...

Capitol Report: March 18This was an extremely hectic week on the fifth floor of the capital building. The House finance committee and budget subcommittees made many tough budget choices to live within our means. All House Finance budget subcommittees had finalized their Fiscal Year 2014 budget recommendations by close of business Friday, March 1. The House finance committee (HFIN) adopted a work draft of both the operating and mental hea...

Defend Alaskans’ Right to VoteToday, voting rights are under assault by political partisans whose agenda is threatened by a healthy democracy. Thirty-eight years after passage of the Voting Rights Act and 143 years after passage of the 15th Amendment, Mead Treadwell and Bob Lynn have joined Republican state legislators and gubernatorial administrations from around the country in an assault on voting rights. They are motivated by a belief that ...

Capitol report: March 11Greetings from the Alaska State Capitol. After a long stretch of cool and rainy weather, Juneau was greeted by sunny skies and warmer temperatures during the Alaska Legislative Centennial Commission’s March 3-5 events commemorating the centennial of the first Territorial Legislature. As chair of the seven-member commission, I was privileged to welcome former lawmakers to the capital city to share their experiences...

Capitol Report: Feb. 22Hello from the Alaska State Capitol. The 2013 session is rapidly approaching the halfway point and lawmakers are busy considering numerous bills, resolutions and other issues. In the coming weeks, I expect to see the House pass its version of the 2014 operating budget and transmit it to the Senate for further consideration. In the meantime, various budget subcommittees have been meeting to consider the budgets for...

Austerman gives an update on House activitiesThe House Finance subcommittees are continuing to review the operating budget and we are all working diligently to reduce its growth. Subcommittees have until March 1 to make their recommendations. The House Finance committee will then adopt a draft budget bill and take public testimony, after which we will review and/or adopt amendments before moving the budget to the full House around March 13. Majority Prioriti...